Year of Release: 2018
Director: Fritz Bohm
Starring: Bel Powley, Brad Dourif, Liv Tyler, Collin Kelly-Sordelet, James Le Gros, Troy Ruptash, Keenan Jolliff, Mike Faist, Charlotte Ubben
Genre: Drama, Horror
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 5
Watch it on Amazon
Synopsis and Review:
"Wildling" had its premiere at South by Southwest, March of 2018, where it was met with a mix of critical responses, some of which embraced the merger of its indie style roots with more of a horror/genre style. The film is the feature directorial debut of Fritz Bohm, following his stints directing a few shorts. The film follows the story of a young girl named Anna, whom we witness is being brought up in a basement of sorts, by a man whom she calls daddy. Anna never goes out, and is educated by that man, who always treats her very well, always warning her of the dangers that lie outside of the house, by creatures he calls the Wildling. As Anna grows up and becomes a teenager, daddy starts giving her shots, to essentially control her adulthood/womanhood, something that starts making her more and more sick. Following her daddy's failed suicide attempt, Anna is saved by the local sheriff, Ellen Cooper, who lives with her younger brother. As Anna becomes acquainted with people, and with living in society, she also starts realizing she possesses some unique traits that make her quite different than everyone else. Things quickly take a darker turn, when after going to a party, one of the bullies in town tries to harass Anna.
"Wildling" is for the most part a watchable film, mostly for its compelling cast, but also because the director manages to briefly capture the secrets that lie within a small town, and within a few strokes, outline the context in which these characters exist. The film exhibits a certain style reminiscent of Debra Granik's work, interwoven with the ambience of unease, something supernatural, that may lie with the central character, Anna. The director tries to capture a bit of the spirit of John Landis's "An American Werewolf in London", but this film is never quite as funny, nor quite as dark. Whereas Ari Aster and Robert Eggers, directors of "Hereditary" and "The Witch" respectively, tread similar ground, they are showcasing a stylistic approach to their features, which the "Wildling" is lacking. The cast is nonetheless quite compelling, with Bel Powley, Brad Dourif and Liv Tyler all managing to create dimensional and interesting characters. The cinematography from Toby Oliver is at times almost too dark, but it works well for the story being told. It's a watchable film, one that just needed a more distinct and visceral point of view, to make it truly memorable.
"Wildling" is for the most part a watchable film, mostly for its compelling cast, but also because the director manages to briefly capture the secrets that lie within a small town, and within a few strokes, outline the context in which these characters exist. The film exhibits a certain style reminiscent of Debra Granik's work, interwoven with the ambience of unease, something supernatural, that may lie with the central character, Anna. The director tries to capture a bit of the spirit of John Landis's "An American Werewolf in London", but this film is never quite as funny, nor quite as dark. Whereas Ari Aster and Robert Eggers, directors of "Hereditary" and "The Witch" respectively, tread similar ground, they are showcasing a stylistic approach to their features, which the "Wildling" is lacking. The cast is nonetheless quite compelling, with Bel Powley, Brad Dourif and Liv Tyler all managing to create dimensional and interesting characters. The cinematography from Toby Oliver is at times almost too dark, but it works well for the story being told. It's a watchable film, one that just needed a more distinct and visceral point of view, to make it truly memorable.
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